RTÉ has today announced that Operation Transformation (OT) is to end after 17 seasons. As series come to an end each year, RTÉ undertakes an editorial review to ensure the audience is being best served and to refresh and renew its slate of programming. The decision on Operation Transformation was communicated some weeks ago to those involved including the experts and stakeholders.
The series, which kicked off in 2008, initially saw presenter Gerry Ryan select hopefuls on his RTÉ 2FM radio show, following them as they attempted to reshape and reboot their lives, guided by experts in the fields of nutrition, weight loss, and psychology. Kathryn Thomas has been presenting the series since 2012 and has made the show her own with her empathetic and motivational style.
Over the course of the series, there have been dozens of leaders from all over Ireland, bidding to improve their health and wellbeing and checking in on a weekly basis with the panel of experts, and inspiring thousands of viewers at home to follow their lead and their plans.
The series evolved considerably over the years with recent series encompassing a more holistic approach to adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle as well as losing weight. In a recent series, leaders underwent a weekly health check-in where various additional health indicators were monitored including Upper Body Strength, Balance, Lower Body Strength and Cardiovascular as well as Hydration, Blood Pressure, Metabolic Age, Weight, General Health, Nutrition, and Movement.
The final series of the show, which aired earlier this year, featured leaders Michelle Rogan, Darragh Fitzgerald, Anne Cushen, Noel O'Connell, and Edel O'Malley. The leaders were ably assisted by clinical psychologist Dr. Eddie Murphy, Coru Registered Dietician Sophie Pratt, general practitioner Dr Sumi Dunne, and fitness expert Karl Henry.
Presenter Kathryn Thomas said: "It has been an incredible privilege to be a part of Operation Transformation for the past 14 years and I am so proud of the legacy the show is leaving behind. To be able to shine a national spotlight on the importance of looking after our health through our amazing leaders, ordinary people living ordinary lives, who opened up their hearts and homes in the most extraordinary ways. Every single one of you inspired me. And I learned so much from all our incredible experts down through the years too. It's been one hell of a journey! "
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